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Rossby Number

Description

The Rossby number (Ro) named for Carl-Gustav Arvid Rossby, is a dimensionless number used in describing fluid flow. The Rossby number is commonly used in geophysical phenomena in the oceans and atmosphere, where it characterizes the importance of Coriolis accelerations arising from planetary rotation. It is also known as the Kibel number.

Related formulas

Variables

RoRossby number (dimensionless)
Ucharacteristic velocity (m/s)
Llength scales of the phenomenon (m)
fCoriolis frequency (Hz)